IN THE NEWS / Service supplier tells local businesses to showcase what they offer
The Telegram - Saint Johns
Potential local suppliers to the Terra Nova project have been told that, above all else, they must demonstrate “ingenuity, integrity and reliability.”
Bill Lingard, president of Halliburton Canada, outlined for some 250 local business representatives Thursday the commitment of Halliburton's group of companies to Newfoundland benefits.
Lingard, a Botwood native who was raised in Bishop's Falls and joined Halliburton in 1982 as a field engineer, was the luncheon speaker at a half-day business opportunities workshop related to the Terra Nova operations phase.
Halliburton Energy Services is responsible for the management and execution of well engineering and provision of well services.
The workshop, sponsored by the Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) in co-operation with the Terra Nova project, was held to outline for local companies what will be expected of them and to enable them to present a profile of the services, products and capabilities they can provide.
Following the luncheon, there was an afternoon of one-on-one sessions with Terra Nova Alliance companies and contractors.
Lingard urged the business representatives to get on the supplier data base for the project.
“Make sure we know your capabilities.”
He said Halliburton will avail of any goods or services which can be provided locally with quality and competitiveness.
“If it can't be supplied locally today and it will be an ongoing need, we will work to get local suppliers qualified and capable.”
Lingard said Halliburton will develop a “best team”approach with lines between supplier and producer removed and a “best value solution” approach with access to emerging technology and the ability and desire to maintain flexibility.
He also emphasized that Halliburton has a priority focus on safe work processes for people and for the environment, at all levels.
“We've told our people that if anyone, no matter who it is, asks them to do something which they think is not safe, they should shut the whole operation down,”Lingard said.
“If there are consequences to Halliburton from it, that's fine. We would rather that.”
Lingard said the key drivers of change in the industry today are outsourcing, downsizing and efficiency, aligning of interest and sharing of risk and demand for increased asset value.
Another factor is low commodity pricing which is “driving the industry to be more efficient.,”he said. “We have to be very conscious of what we charge. I can tell you, there is no price gouging today.”
Halliburton has some 65 employees in Calgary, many of whom are Newfoundlanders, working and learning technology, and they will be brought to the province next year.
The company has 20 employees in St. John's, 16 of which are Newfoundlanders. The other four are experienced Halliburton employees who provide training for the others.
The foundation has been completed for Halliburton's $6-million, 30,000-sq. ft. integrated well services facility in Mount Pearl and steel work now is under way, Lingard said. The facility is expected to be up and running by mid-1999.
“It is very rewarding for me personally to see the activity today. It's a very exciting time,” said Lingard.
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